Appeal Court upholds 490-year jail term for ex-NEXIM bank MD Orya

ABUJA — The Court of Appeal, Abuja, has affirmed the conviction and 490-year prison sentence imposed on former Managing Director of the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Robert Orya, over a N2.4 billion fraud case.

A three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Muhammed Danjuma, with Justices Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche, delivered a unanimous judgment on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, dismissing Orya’s appeal for lacking merit.

Orya was convicted and sentenced on February 5, 2026, by Justice F.E. Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, after being found guilty on 49 counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Orya in 2021 over the alleged offences involving N2.4 billion.

Dissatisfied with the judgment of the trial court, Orya approached the Court of Appeal, seeking to have his conviction and sentence overturned.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Danjuma said the panel had considered the briefs filed by counsel and examined the records of the trial court before resolving all the issues raised in favour of the respondent and against the appellant.

The court held that the appeal was devoid of merit and dismissed it.

Justice Danjuma consequently affirmed the judgment of the FCT High Court delivered on February 5, 2026, in charge number FSC/SC/CS/487/2021.

At the trial court, Justice Messiri had held that the prosecution established its case beyond reasonable doubt and found Orya guilty on all 49 counts.

The judge sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts, amounting to 490 years.

The sentences, however, are to run concurrently.

Orya served as Managing Director of NEXIM Bank from 2009 to 2016. He was appointed to the position on August 14, 2009, by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and was reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.